Business News - March 2020 by SaltWire Network

Advocating for business Andrew Wadden to bring more focus to small business, advocacy in his new role with St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Trade Page 10

MARCH: 2020

VOLUME 35: #1 | 0316-2020

MARCH: 2020 | VOLUME 35: #1

Business News is a publication of the St. John’s Board of Trade. Reproduction of any material contained in Business News is permitted provided written approval from the St. John’s Board of Trade. We encourage you to support the business leaders whose names and products you see advertised in this issue as well as throughout our entire membership. The Board reserves the right to edit submissions. DIRECTORS ST. JOHN’S BOARD OF TRADE Executive: Andrew Wadden: Chair Justin Ladha: Senior Vice Chair Norm Dimmell: First Vice Chair Alex Gibson: Second Vice Chair Leanne Kelly: Treasurer Directors: Kevin Casey Debra Feltham Heather Stamp-Nunes LeighAnn O’Neill Joanne Slaney Doug Wright Janice Connors STAFF Rhonda Tulk-Lane: Acting Chief Executive Officer Brendan Hagerty: Manager of Business Solutions Jackie Bryant Cumby: Member Relations Specialist Jennifer Chaytor: Manager, Finance & Compliance Brandon Ellis: Manager, Policy and Advocacy Lori Sheppard: Project Co-ordinator Erika Stockley: Sales Manager Ashley Verge: Central Region Co-ordinator, Connector NL Shanna Mugford: Western Region Co-ordinator, Connector NL Ankur Sheohare: Project Manager, Newcomers Entrepreneur Program Stacy Snow: Intern Matt Kennedy: Intern 34 Harvey Road P.O. Box 5127 St. John’s, NL A1C 5V5 Canada Tel: 709.726.2961 Email: mail@bot.nf.ca

www.stjohnsbot.ca Business News is published by The SaltWire Network Custom Publishing Department President & CEO: Mark Lever Vice President, Sales (NL): Todd Foote Director, Product Management: Lindsey Bunin Editor: Paula Bugden Layout & Design: Peter Ross Contributing Writers: Sara Ericsson, Heather Laura Clarke Cover photo: Dave Howells Sales Inquiries: 709-748-0829 Printed by: SaltWire Printing Copyright 2020 by

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MARCH 2020

Chris Crockwell

In this issue: 4 Around the board .................................... 8 Advocating for business..................... 10 Members in the news .............................

Andrew Wadden to bring more focus to small business, advocacy in his new role with St. John’s Board of Trade

More on the horizon ...........................

‘It’s in our blood’ ..................................

The economy .........................................

St. John’s businesses share their goals, plans for 2020

Diving into Newfoundland and Labrador’s historic connection to the ocean

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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Members in the news

New restaurant in town

Alt Hotel St. John’s is thrilled to announce the opening of its on-site restaurant and caterer, Terre, which focuses on great food inspired by the local landscape and nearby sea. Before leaving the mainland, Terre’s chef, Matthew Swift, had been working in kitchens in Ontario and Quebec for almost two decades, including as chef of Joe Beef, a beloved Montreal institution. Swift fell in love with Newfoundland and Labrador on his first trip to the Rock in 2017. He is inspired by its people, its food, its produce, its history and its great landscapes. While he has not grown up in the province, he hopes to bring an all-Canadian fare using the best of what Newfoundland has to offer.

Avara Solutions Inc. celebrates five years

Avara Solutions Inc. is celebrating five years in business. The business thanks all of its amazing clients for their support and says it also wouldn’t be where it is today without the Avara team of candidates and consultants. Thanks goes out to them for representing the business to the best of their ability. Cheers to many more celebrations and more years in business!

Family franchise

The Rogers family opened the Mark’s franchise in August 1989. What started out as a small store in The Village Shopping Centre eventually grew into three larger locations and a corporate-wear company, Mark’s Commercial. The franchise has two locations in St. John’s, one in Mount Pearl and the Mark’s Commercial location in Paradise. Mark’s Commercial helps clients manage their first impressions through an extensive line of corporate and casual wear. Custom

purchasing programs are created to help clients with their unique needs. The Mark’s family are proud Newfoundlanders. They support people in the community through employment, charities, sports teams and more. Mark’s values its employees and customers and looks forward to many more years of business on the east coast of Newfoundland. “We are proud to be a local business supporting our beautiful province of Newfoundland!” — The Rogers and Deer families

BUSINESS NEWS

Opportunities to grow aerospace industry in Newfoundland and Labrador

Serving up entrepreneurial success

My wife, Nipa and I came from Bangladesh. We meant to go to Saint John, N.B., but instead we ended up in St. John’s, N.L. In the beginning, I did not recognize the name difference between Saint John and St. John’s. Well, everything happens for a good reason because now we are proud Canadian citizens and have our very own restaurant. Our entrepreneurship mentality has made us independent and we are now our own bosses. We came from away, we worked hard, we built our credit line and we maintained our modest lifestyle here in Canada without any debts. This, in turn, resulted in a good credit history to satisfy Canadian financial requirements to allow us to borrow some money and start our own business here in Newfoundland. We literally did not spend much out of our own pocket to establish a business. We had good credit history, prepared a solid business plan, started working on the front line with employees and never missed any payments. This is the year we would have been paying off all of our bank loans, so we consider ourselves successful entrepreneurs. Everyone is welcome to visit NJ’s Kitchen for a delicious taste of Bangladeshi/East Indian cuisine, while supporting a local small business. Let’s grow better together! — Jamil Hossain, NJ’s Kitchen

Raising the bar in beauty industry

The Studio Beauty Bar, locally owned and operated by Samantha Picco, has been leading the way in the emerging beauty industry in St. John’s. Over the past several years, Picco has demonstrated her ability to excel and adapt, while maintaining the highest of standards in a competitive industry. Alongside a team of beauty experts, the goal is building confidence that lasts. They introduce clients to the latest trends, while making them feel at home. The studio also offers continuous education to aspiring beauty professionals and the dedicated team of technicians. Picco believes investing in her team is essential to the development and success of the business.

The owner of a Newfoundland and Labrador-based airline sees huge opportunities to grow the province’s aerospace industry. Patrick White and his wife, Florence, own and operate EVAS Air and Gander Flight Training out of Gander. White wants to see more attention paid to these opportunities. “Canada’s aerospace industry is the fifth largest in the world, contributing $25.5 billion annually to the Canadian economy,” says White, who also believes there is excellent potential to see some of that growth in this province. The EVAS Group of Companies is expanding operations at its EVAS Maintenance Division, Gander Flight Training and EVAS Air, which is a Ganderbased Air Canada partner in Atlantic Canada. White says the company’s operations are a growing force, especially in maintenance repair, overhaul and training. “EVAS Group of Companies is excited about innovation and new technology its workforce is developing that will be available to the aviation industry throughout the world. Our workers have developed a new technology that modernizes aircraft from analog instrumentation to a new digital glass cockpit, which has worldwide implications for the Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. Plus, our EVAS Air staff have completed the design, manufacturing and testing of a lavatory for these aircraft, along with designing new cargo doors,” says White. White is quick to point out that all work is being done by EVAS Air workers in Gander. EVAS Air and Gander Flight Training employ 230 workers in Newfoundland and Labrador and the Atlantic provinces. EVAS Air is the province’s only locally owned and operated airline.

Where Potential Launches Opportunity Premier heavy industrial seaport Construction site of Husky CGS for West White Rose project 625 metres of docking facilities

709 227 5502 MARCH 2020

portofargentia.ca

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Special projects laydown area

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Marking 180 years in business

Congratulations to Dicks and Company Basics on its 180th anniversary! Since 1840, they have been a local business supporting Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy and community, with locations in St. John’s, Carbonear, Grand Falls-Windsor and Corner Brook. The province is important to them and they work hard to give back to it. In their 180 years, they’ve adapted to the changing needs of businesses and have grown, specializing in the office products, business machines, engraving and printing trades. As part of Basics Office Products, Dicks and Company Basics has thousands of products and the service you can only get when shopping at a local company.

Introducing Business Development Manager

Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers 2020 New look in the works

Holiday Inn St. John’s Conference Centre is getting a facelift. The hotel has embarked on renovations that will see modernized meeting spaces, refreshed public areas and transformed, well-appointed guestrooms. East Side Mario’s restaurant at Holiday Inn has also recently undergone renovations and continues to offer great food and service to hotel guests and locals. Commenting on investment being made in the property by Sunray Group of Hotels, General Manager Kimberly Snow said, “The Holiday Inn St. John’s has a long history in our community. We look forward to delivering even more memorable experiences to guests in our revitalized spaces.”

Kudos to the following St. John’s Board of Trade members who were recently selected as Atlantic Canada’s Top Employers for 2020: • • • • • • • • • •

CAA Atlantic Limited CBCL Limited Emera Inc. Killam Apartment REIT Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Union Ltd. North Atlantic Noseworthy Chapman Chartered Professional Accountants Provincial Aerospace Ltd./PAL St. John’s International Airport Authority Verafin Inc.

It’s a pleasure to introduce Edie Newton as our Business Development Manager on the Avalon. As a business disruptor, we not only provide the skills necessary to grow your business, but we help you develop the attitudes and habits necessary to implement those techniques consistently and effectively over time like our pattern interrupt. For more than 50 years, Sandler Training has been helping salespeople take control of the sales process, helping leaders identify and remove blind spots and bottlenecks and helping professionals around the world level up their career. Contact Newton at 709-687-9474. To learn more, visit sandler.com. — Robert Marche, President and CEO, Sandler Training NL

Note: This information was provided by Atlantic Business Magazine.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

Around the board

Liam Dawe, Altitude Media

The St. John’s Board of Trade’s Outlook ’20 event took place on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Delta Hotels by Marriott St. John’s Conference Centre. Special thanks to Fortis for sponsoring the Inclusion and Diversity Panel and McInnes Cooper for sponsoring the Talent Panel. Thanks to all exhibitors, delegates and attendees for another successful event.

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MARCH 2020

COVER STORY

“Our province is changing and our Board of Trade is changing with it. We will continue working to make St. John’s a friendly and competitive place to do business.” – Andrew Wadden, Chair, St. John’s Board of Trade

Advocating for business Andrew Wadden to bring more focus to small business, advocacy in his new role with St. John’s Board of Trade By Sara Ericsson

mall business is big in St. John’s, where a new fiscal year has brought with it a new focus at the St. John’s Board of Trade. It has honed its offerings to support small business in and around the city and to ensure it has everything it needs to succeed. More than half of the St. John’s Board of Trade’s current membership is made up of small businesses, including that of its new Chair, Andrew Wadden, who brings with him years of experience running one alongside business partners. Wadden also understands the role the St. John’s Board of Trade plays in advocating for businesses and says that being able to do so means continuing to adapt to and reflect the current realities of the St. John’s business community. “Our province is changing and our Board of Trade is changing with it,” says Wadden. “We will continue working to make St. John’s a friendly and competitive place to do business.”

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GETTING INVOLVED Wadden’s journey from law school to Partner was one that took him from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia and back again. He graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) in 1997 and then attended Dalhousie University’s law school, graduating as class valedictorian in 2002. He joined the then Patterson Palmer (now Cox & Palmer) law firm that same year and began practising mostly insurance litigation. Wadden later became In-House Litigation Counsel with Johnson Insurance in 2009 and returned to private practice in 2013, after which he joined two colleagues and friends, Chris Peddigrew and John Hogan, to form WPH Law. Wadden currently serves as Treasurer with the Canadian Bar Association’s Newfoundland and Labrador branch and has served for many years as a member of

the Royal St. John’s Regatta committee. He sits on both the Law Society education and disciplinary committees, is a member of the Legal Appointments Board and recently taught business and the law at the MUN faculty of business administration. He lives in St. John’s with his wife, Amy. His involvement with the St. John’s Board of Trade began after late 2014, when his friend and one of the Board’s Directors, Andrea Stack, suggested he run for a Director position. His law firm was relatively new at the time and Wadden had been searching for a way to better connect with the business community, so the decision to get involved felt like an easy one. “Getting involved with the Board of Trade [made] sense [and] I’ve enjoyed it very much. Since beginning as a Director, we’ve tackled many issues in our advocacy for business — everything from regular meetings with municipal officials in relation BUSINESS NEWS

WPH Law partner Andrew Wadden is the newly appointed St. John’s Board of Trade Chair. Dave Howells

to city taxes, to meeting with federal representatives on Bill C-69,” says Wadden. “[This gives us] the ability to influence what matters to business most here in Newfoundland and Labrador.” SMALL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE St. John’s Board of Trade’s Acting CEO, Rhonda Tulk-Lane, says she is excited to see what Wadden will bring to the Board of Trade as its new Chair, given his experience as a business owner. “When we talk about being [the] voice of and supporting small business, Andrew walks that walk every day — he gets it. It’s given him a different perspective,” she says. “When we look back on the Board’s 40-year history, we’ve had Chairs from all types of businesses. But when you have someone from a small business background, it gives it a sharper focus. We’ve changed our value proposition and are focused on being your MARCH 2020

strengthen membership benefits and ensure go-to place for business, since almost existing and prospective members are aware 60 per cent of our member businesses have of how to get the full value of their memberfewer than 10 staff. Understanding this ship. He says this is important work, as the perspective is more crucial than ever.” St. John’s business sector is a vital part of its Wadden says the main thing he plans to collective community. bring to his new role is “just hard work” — Tulk-Lane agrees that the Board’s new a value he says was instilled in him by his strategic plan will reaffirm its commitment father, John and earlier jobs, where he learned to small business and reflect this through that no substitute exists for it. programs and services it offers to members. “Hard work has to be complemented “We will be promoting a few of these newly by two things: knowing where to focus honed programs efforts and staying in 2020 and they organized, as well will show a sharper as working well [focus] around with your team small businesses and understandand how we help ing that answers them succeed,” to problems come she says. from team effort, The Board has not one person,” also continued says Wadden. to diversify its To accomplish offerings to ensure these two points, it keeps pace with Wadden says he will the ever-evolving ensure the previous world of business. Chair’s efforts to Wadden says it lead a well-orgahas added a unit nized Board with a that works to find sustained focus on solutions for any its three pillars of day-to-day issues support, connect businesses may and celebrate are Contributed have, projects that continued. He encourage older will also rely on Andrew Wadden (centre) was sworn in as the St. John’s professionals to the Board and its Board of Trade’s new Chair on Thursday, Feb. 13. capable staff to help Shown here with him at the inauguration event are his wife, remain in the workforce and move the team in Amy Wadden, and his father, John Wadden. an immigration the right direcprogram focused on provincial entrepretion — something he and his now business neurship initiatives. partners learned years ago in a rowing shell, “These projects are extremely important when they saw that the more in lockstep they to the … labour market that [exists] within were and the more aware they were of each our membership,” he says. other’s efforts to row toward the same goal, Wadden says the Board has also been the more successful they’d ultimately be. active at the table on major discussions “I mean business and so does the regarding the future of the business commuSt. John’s Board of Trade. It’s time to rebuild nity and province, including the CRA HST the emotional connection with our memberremittance extensions and presentations ship,” says Wadden. “I will rely on our Board to city council, the House of Commons and our capable staff to help move the BOT Standing Committee on Finance on matters crew in the right direction.” including minimum wage, as well as presenting to the Standing Senate Committee FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE on Energy, the Environment and Natural Wadden says the Board is revisiting its Resources on members’ concerns regarding image to further ensure that, as an active carbon tax. organization in the public sphere, it remains This is but one way Wadden says the relevant and that the business community Board advocates on behalf of its members. supports and sees it as a progressive chamIt’s also something Wadden says he, as pion for business. Chair, will continue to prioritize. “The Wadden says his goals are to help push business community is the economic engine advocacy and ensure Board members can of St. John’s. It creates jobs, provides goods identify successes, like its recent work with and services and welcomes visitors,” says the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on Wadden. “The [Board’s] membership prides securing HST remittance extensions for itself on being engaged and active both inside businesses affected by the state of emergency their businesses and outside of them … and that followed a record-breaking snowfall in our role is to represent [their] interests to all St. John’s and other areas of the province levels of government.” ■ earlier this year. Wadden will also work to

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LOOKING AHEAD

More on the horizon St. John’s businesses share their goals, plans for 2020

By Sara Ericsson

he new year is a time of reflection, setting goals and honing strategy for business. It can also be a blank slate for people in terms of what they choose to do, if they’re looking to make a change. Or it can even be a time to reconvene — to come together to consolidate and strengthen current goals or redefine strategy with a new approach. With that in mind, here’s a look at what some St. John’s businesses are looking forward to in 2020. Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism • Headshots contributed

CANOPY GROWTH CORPORATION Canopy Growth Corporation’s Communications and Media Vice-President, Jordan Sinclair, says Tweed is looking forward to introducing consumers to its Cannabis 2.0 products in 2020. “Accompanying our dried flower, oil, hemp and softgel capsules, we are now offering consumers the opportunity to experience cannabis in a variety of different flavours and formats with world-class vape pen and vape cartridge technology and premium, delicious, bean-tobar, cannabis-infused chocolate. We also plan to launch a line of crisp, clean, refreshing cannabis beverages later this year. 2020 is also when we start growing plants at our St. John’s facility. Here’s to future growth!”

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TERRA NOVA GMC BUICK Terra Nova GMC Buick’s General Manager, Alexia Russell Feltham, says the dealership is very enthusiastic for 2020. “We are projecting growth in all departments [at] our dealership and look forward to [an] innovation-driven year in the automotive business. We are excited about the future growth of General Motors and its release of industry-changing, innovative electric vehicles [like] the all-electric GMC Hummer truck announced [in February], which will be a game-changer in the electric vehicle market. Electric is truly the future and it is also very encouraging to see Newfoundland [and Labrador] Hydro’s implementation plan of island-wide vehicle-charging stations. The rate of innovation in vehicle technology, efficiency and safety is coming at such a fast pace that it’s [an] exhilarating time to be in the industry.”

OCEANEX Oceanex’s Executive Chairman, Capt. Sid Hynes, says despite an economy that’s seeing some challenges, he is hopeful this year will continue bringing steady shipping volume to Newfoundland and Labrador. “We’ve reached out to our customers in terms of putting together budgets for this year and it appears the volume will be somewhat similar to last year. It’s not a great economy — it’s moseying along, so there may be a bit of sideways movement. We continue to strive for cost control, which can become more and more challenging, so we’re also finding the right people for the right seats and resources as we go forward. We’re always trying to improve productivity and efficiency and have a lot on the go, with many future projects in the works that will be unveiled this year.”

CADILLAC SERVICES LTD. Cadillac Services Ltd.’s Vice-President, Andrew Duffett, is feeling “cautiously optimistic” about 2020. “As I reflect on the current state of our industry, I see 2020 as an opportunity for Cadillac Services to be resourceful and creative in our offerings and solutions for our customers. We’re excited about our newest service offering, Heave Away Waste Management, which will offer bulk waste disposal. This new offering brings the opportunity to better serve our clients and diversify our revenue stream. Our strategy for 2020 is to keep our head down, continue to nurture relationships with our customers, vendors and employees and be attentive of industry and economic trends.”

BUSINESS NEWS

Jordan Sinclair is Canopy Growth Corporation’s Communications and Media Vice-President.

Alexia Russell Feltham is the General Manager at Terra Nova GMC Buick.

Capt. Sid Hynes is the Executive Chairman at Oceanex.

Andrew Duffett is Cadillac Services Ltd.’s Vice-President.

Claude Sullivan is an Owner and Broker at East Coast Mortgage Brokers.

Chad Decker is Owner and Human Resources Partner at People Stuff Inc.

Derek Sullivan is Vice-President at Atlantic DataSystems.

Joe Coffey is Upstream Marketing’s Owner and Account Planner.

“Creating solid hiring, onboarding, development and culture is key to getting more ROI from your business and people investments.” – Chad Decker, Owner and Human Resources Partner, People Stuff Inc. EAST COAST MORTGAGE BROKERS East Coast Mortgage Brokers Owner and Broker Claude Sullivan says he and his colleagues are looking forward to another successful year of growth at the business, which will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in 2020. “We started out with just one agent and have now grown to a team of 22 [to] become the province’s number 1 mortgage company and one of the largest in Atlantic Canada. We like to attribute this to our motto of ‘treating clients as our friends.’ Mortgage rates are continuing to stay low, real estate sales in the province are showing signs of increase and more clients are reaching out to mortgage brokers like us to ensure they get the best deal possible, so we are very optimistic for the future of our industry.”

MARCH 2020

PEOPLE STUFF INC. People Stuff Inc.’s Owner and Human Resources Partner, Chad Decker, says 2020 is going to be one of fostering further growth and new relationships at the human resources agency. “I am looking forward to growing and expanding my partnerships and HR projects with organizations across Newfoundland and Labrador. I see the year being filled with many networking opportunities and making more connections. People Stuff is successful in helping businesses improve revenue and operations through improving their employee life cycle and HR processes. Creating solid hiring, onboarding, development and culture is key to getting more ROI from your business and people investments.”

ATLANTIC DATASYSTEMS Atlantic DataSystems’ Vice-President, Derek Sullivan, says his company expects 2020 to be an exciting year for its business. “Our clients are transforming their operations through our solutions for modernization and business automation. With the launch of our Sage Intacct product line, we are bringing clients a true ‘born in the cloud’ solution for financial management. In Atlantic Canada, businesses must demonstrate innovation and flexibility to compete nationally and globally. We enjoy bringing the promise of technology to our clients along this journey. Together with our parent company, Vision33, our solutions are helping growth-focused businesses in Canada and around the globe to drive their success.”

UPSTREAM MARKETING Upstream Marketing’s Owner and Account Planner, Joe Coffey, says the company is positioned well for 2020, as 2019 was a banner year for the company, with new employees hired on and new clients added to its portfolio. “The work was challenging and took us to parts of the world we’d never yet been. Thankfully, our clients had a great year as well and all of that combined has us excited about 2020. In particular, we’re looking forward to continuing to expand our team and to helping our clients grow their businesses and reach their objectives. Upstream is also preparing for more growth and is set to launch a business development campaign that will cover parts of Canada and the U.S.” ■

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OCEAN CONNECTIONS

“We have more than 17,000 kilometres of shoreline. We’re the perfect place to grow and farm seafood,” says Mark Lane, the Executive Director of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA). “The potential for sustainable growth is enormous.”

‘It’s in our blood’ Diving into Newfoundland and Labrador’s historic connection to the ocean Chris Crockwell

By Heather Laura Clarke

hen John Cabot landed on a rocky island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in 1497, he was able to survive there because of the abundance of cod. Mark Lane, the Executive Director of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA), says modern Newfoundland and Labrador residents still have that same ability to overcome obstacles and make a living from the sea. “We have a 500-year history of people who are used to living by the sea, working from the sea and living from the sea,” says Lane. “It’s in our blood.” He says Newfoundland and Labrador’s aquaculture industry has experienced significant growth over the last four or five years. What was only a concept back in the ’80s has grown into an industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars — and counting. “Right now, more than 53 per cent of all seafood consumed in the world is farmed,” says Lane. “We have a growing, aging population and there’s an increased demand for seafood. People are more health-conscious and want a healthy source of protein that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids and other essential vitamins.”

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By the numbers Newfoundland and Labrador’s ocean economy: •

Covers more than 53 per cent of the nation’s ocean economy

•

Employs around 40,000 people

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Contributes $16 billion plus annually to Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada

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Accounts for 40 per cent of the provincial GDP

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Encompasses 450 companies in oceans-sector business, including more than 60 innovators of new, high-tech products and services Source: OceansAdvance

Lane says the U.N. is predicting an 80-million tonne deficient of seafood protein and he believes aquaculture is the way to fill the gap. “We live in a changing world where people care more about where their food comes from and how they can reduce their carbon footprint and their impact on the environment,” says Lane, who points out that raising one million kilograms of beef requires 3,573 hectares of pasture, but raising the same quantity of salmon requires just 1.6 hectares of ocean. “Farmed seafood is the sustainable, environmentally friendly option.” It’s also one that makes sense from an economic standpoint. Fish plants that were shut down years ago during the fishery decline were reopened by new activity processing aquaculture products — putting people back to work year-round. And for every job created on an aquaculture farm, Lane says, three additional jobs are created in the supply sector. “We have more than 17,000 kilometres of shoreline. We’re the perfect place to grow and farm seafood,” says Lane. “The potential for sustainable growth is enormous.” Glenn Blackwood, the Vice-President of Memorial University for the Fisheries and Marine Institute, says there’s never BUSINESS NEWS

been a more interesting time to be a part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s diverse ocean economy. “Key sectors like maritime transportation, oil and gas, fisheries, ocean technology and aquaculture are all growing and the opportunities for our graduates locally, nationally and internationally have never been better,” says Blackwood. The ever-changing ocean has led to changes in the Marine Institute’s programming as well. With the development of oil and gas in the ’90s, the recent growth of aquaculture and the revitalization of the fishery, there has been a massive growth in the ocean technology sector. In 2007, the Marine Institute created the School of Ocean Technology and it has grown rapidly, with programs and research in areas such as ocean mapping and underwater vehicles. The institute has also greatly increased its graduate program offerings. “We have developed new graduate degrees, such as the masters of maritime management, the masters of technology management and doctoral programs in fisheries science to allow our graduates to move into senior leadership positions in the industry and government,” says Blackwood. Blackwood says many people “turned their back on the ocean” back in the ’60s and ’70s as they moved away from traditional industries, but now he sees a major resurgence in the ocean sector. “Seventy-two per cent of our planet is water and we’ve only just started to explore it and understand it,” says Blackwood. “I think the next 20 years are going to be even more exciting for those of us working in the ocean sector.” Where the frigid Labrador Current meets the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, it creates one of the richest fishing grounds in the world. It also creates Newfoundland’s oneof-a-kind ecosystem that can prove helpful for ocean tech students — even though it can be challenging to work in sometimes. “There’s a lot of work to do in what can be a harsh environment, but what we like to say

Contributed

“Our programs are built to national and international standards, so our students can work in and around oceans anywhere in the world.” – Glenn Blackwood,

Vice-President, Memorial University, Fisheries and Marine Institute

to our students is, ‘If you can do it here, you can do it anywhere,’” says Blackwood. “Our programs are built to national and international standards, so our students can work in and around oceans anywhere in the world.” Newfoundland and Labrador has the largest ocean economy in Canada and it’s an industry that’s changed a lot over the last 20 years. That’s why Cathy Hogan, the Executive Director of OceansAdvance, says they’re making it a priority to inspire young people to think about a future in ocean tech. “One of our fears is that young people will look at the ocean and think, ‘That was my poppy’s fishery. I don’t see myself in a 65-foot longliner out on the sea by 3 a.m.’”

Contributed

Cathy Hogan, with OceansAdvance, teamed up with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to bring 13 young women from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia — as well as five local startups — to the OCEANS 19 conference in Seattle this past October.

MARCH 2020

says Hogan. “We want to capture their interest and encourage them to consider a career in ocean tech, whether it’s in the sciences or research or entrepreneurship. We just want to keep them enticed and engaged.” OceansAdvance works to connect employers and potential employees by bringing industry leaders into Memorial University of Newfoundland to speak about their companies. Several engineering students are selected to share their research and the goal is to do a bit of professional matchmaking. “A business owner might say, ‘Hey, I like your research. Maybe you should come work for us when you graduate.’ Or a student might say, ‘Wow, look at how Moya Cahill and Karl Kenny started their companies. I think I’d like to do that,’” says Hogan. “We want to make sure there’s a future supply of business owners, scientists and researchers.” Hogan recently teamed up with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to encourage more young women to pursue a career in ocean tech. The pilot program allowed her to bring 13 young women from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia — as well as five local startups — to the OCEANS 19 conference in Seattle this past October. Hogan says it was a “phenomenal” experience for everyone involved. “We’re really trying not only to grow the sector, but to grow the number of women in the ocean tech community,” says Hogan. “There are a lot of smart women out there and we need to get them up and running.” During the downturn of the oil and gas industry, Hogan says people were fearful it would have a detrimental effect on ocean tech companies that rely on exporting. Thankfully, she says, the amount of support from federal and provincial levels of government for the ocean tech sector is “unmatched” anywhere else in the world — and Newfoundland ocean tech companies are currently exporting to more than 49 countries. “We’ve come a long way from a small skiff on the ocean to doing world-class research and working with top companies anywhere there’s water,” says Hogan. “You can go anywhere in the world and there are Newfoundlanders selling their products and services in ocean tech. It’s really something to be proud of and it’s an exciting sector to be in.” Back at the Fisheries and Marine Institute, Blackwood points to recent studies indicating that not only is Newfoundland’s past and present tied to the ocean — its biggest opportunities in the future are tied to the ocean. “The history of the ocean is all around us and it’s in our DNA,” says Blackwood. “We’re really well-positioned as a province and it’s a great time to be in the oceans sector locally, but to also export and share our expertise with the world.” ■

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‘It’s the community coming together to help’ How St. John’s residents, businesses pitch in to support Habitat for Humanity By Heather Laura Clarke

andering down the aisles looking at five-piece bedroom suites, full dining room sets, comfy couches, gleaming stainless steel appliances and hundreds of light fixtures, you’ll realize Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore never has the same stock two days in a row. “You never know what you’ll find here,” says ReStore manager Jon Rossiter. “It’s always a new adventure.” In its brightly-lit 7,100 sq. ft. facility on Kenmount Road in St. John’s, the ReStore is Habitat for Humanity’s social enterprise — accepting donations of quality new and used building materials, furniture, appliances and then reselling them to the public for a fraction of market value, with all proceeds supporting local Habitat for Humanity builds. Some of the items sold in the ReStore are actually in brand-new condition because the ReStore partners with retailers and contractors looking to offload dead stock, return-to-vendor items or customer returns. “It helps retailers free up valuable square footage by getting rid of old stock without having to pay to dispose of it, and they also get to feel good about giving back to the community,” says Rossiter. He says most people don’t realize Habitat for Humanity offers free pick-up for their gently-used items, whether it’s a homeowner with an extra couch they no longer need, a business with extra office furniture or contractor with leftover building materials. Rossiter says it feels good to know these items going to people who will use them. Instead of winding up in the Robin Hood Bay landfill, each piece sold at the ReStore gets to be “recycled” into a different home or office. “We really believe in keeping good, usable items in circulation, and having a zero-waste mentality,” says Rossiter.

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PHOTOS: Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland & Labrador

In its brightly-lit 7,100 sq. ft. facility on Kenmount Road in St. John’s, the ReStore is Habitat for Humanity’s social enterprise.

“Plus, every time you shop at the ReStore, you’re supporting affordable home ownership in your community.” Every dollar made at the ReStore goes directly to Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland & Labrador, which has built more than 60 homes since 1994 for an average of 2-3 full builds each year. Sandra Whiffen, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland & Labrador, says they’re currently building a two-unit duplex in Happy Valley Goose Bay. “It’s always the community coming together for the build,” says Whiffen. “With the support of volunteers in the community, we’re able to build homes that provide the strength, stability and independence that families need for a

better future.” Habitat for Humanity regularly partners with corporate groups looking for a team-building activity that will make a positive difference in the community. Whiffen says teams always enjoy their time on the job site, and 100 per cent of the company’s donation is invested directly into home building. Habitat for Humanity’s motto is “You don’t have to lift a hammer to help,” and Whiffen says that’s because there are so many different ways to help — like donating money (to support home builds), donating gently-used furniture or building materials (to be re-sold at the ReStore) or donating your time (by volunteering in the ReStore or at a build). “Seeing the joy on the families’ faces as they become homeowners for the first time is something you’ll never forget,” says Whiffen. “Access to safe, decent and affordable housing is a basic human right that should be available to everyone.” To learn more about how you can work with Habitat for Humanity Newfoundland & Labrador or donate items to the ReStore, please visit habitatnl.ca. ■ BUSINESS NEWS

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A warm welcome — and the tools to succeed Association for New Canadians provides free assistance for employers, employees across the province CONTRIBUTED